2012 flag-bearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP,) Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has asserted that the present economic difficulties in the country coupled with alleged corrupt scandals in government “sometimes make it tough for someone to boastfully claim to be a Ghanaian.”

Dr. Nduom recounted that in the early 70s it was a delight and a source of pride for people to be called Ghanaians when they found themselves outside the shores of the country.

“When I travelled to America first, it was indeed a delight the moment I mentioned I was from Ghana. The immediate response that followed was that from Kwame Nkrumah’s country,” Dr. Nduom recounted.

“...even people from other African countries like Sierra Leone wanted to be called Ghanaians,” the PPP flag-bearer added.

That situation, according to the PPP stalwart, was a “big boost” for the country’s image and the economy.

Dr. Nduom made these observations when he continued his interactive engagement with listeners and viewers across the country on Ghana, Great and Strong, last Saturday in Accra.

The programme, which is non-partisan, was aired on Amansan TV (ATV) in Accra on Saturday, December 13, 2014 and streamed live on Ghana’s premier internet-based radio—www.hedjorleonlineradio.com—from 7:00 P.M., to 8:00 P.M., with Dr. Nduom as the host.

The astute politician has since last week on his weekly programme been interacting with listeners and viewers via telephone on a wide range of national issues including the economy, corruption, unemployment, revenue generation and mobilisation among others.

He could not understand why energetic young men and women would travel abroad to do menial jobs like washing of dishes, cleaning etcetera, etcetera.

He was particularly worried about Ghanaian degree holders who travel to Europe and America to do menial jobs when in actual fact they would not do such jobs in the country.

“Every Ghanaian wants to travel out of the country for economic survival because of the prevailing economic situation,” he indicated.

Dr. Nduom noted that the current challenges bedeviling the country have come about as a result of “negligence on the part of managers of the economy.”

According to him, Ghana has everything to make her people prosperous in developed countries like the United States of America, Canada, Germany, Japan and Britain.

“We don’t have any excuse to fail our people who put us in the helm of affairs to manage the country’s resources,” Dr. Nduom said.

He, therefore, charged his colleague politicians to live above reproach and ensure that the living conditions of the masses are improved.

He argued that if leaders of this country would create favourable economic opportunities for the citizenry, there would be no way for people to desire to travel abroad.

Significantly, many of the listeners who contributed on the show agreed with many of Dr. Nduom’s submissions.

For instance, a caller from Dormaa, Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo region, Aboagye Tawiah, could not have agreed more with Dr. Nduom. According to him, Ghanaians should vote out the Mahama administration in 2016.

He also said it was as a result of the actions of “our leaders that Ghanaians were no longer respected outside the country.”

“How can you fly $3million cash to Brazil and expect the rest of the world to respect your country in this information and technology age?” he quizzed.

Another caller who gave his name as Abubakar Idrissu from Bawku in the Northern region bemoaned the posture of Ghanaian leaders and accused them of being behind the numerous economic woes the country was currently saddled with.

He was quick, however, to blame the electorate for voting for wrong people to lead the country.

“....he thus charged Ghanaians to be very circumspect when electing people to run the affairs of this country.

According to Abubakar, the only way the country could have its sinking image back was for the current administration to operate a transparent and an open government.